Van Jefferson

Jefferson's 2023 debut was delayed until Week 8 due to an offseason knee surgery, and with many injuries to multiple Rams wideouts, he had every chance to build upon his sophomore campaign (50-802-6 on 89 targets). Instead, he struggled to produce, putting up 24-369-3 on 44 targets in 11 games, some of which can be attributed to a rotating door of QBs that stepped in with Matthew Stafford out for the season after Week 11. With Allen Robinson traded to the Steelers this offseason, Jefferson now sits second on the depth chart behind Cooper Kupp, and a lackluster group of unproven receivers lie behind the duo. Kupp again will be a target hog for Stafford, but Jefferson will have plenty of chances to be the secondary threat on the Rams offense.

Jefferson was an unusual second-round pick in 2020, to put it nicely, with his profile lacking standout production or measurables, on top of being one of the oldest players in his draft class. He barely played as a rookie, but last year he got a chance to show off some of the crafty route- running that inspired the Rams to draft him so early. Jefferson was the team's No. 3 receiver most of the year, and at one point midseason he even had 418 yards and four TDs in a span of seven games. He then all but disappeared, averaging 30.8 receiving yards the final four weeks of the regular season and 26.3 yards in three playoff games (with no TDs). Despite the disappointing finish, Jefferson looks like the favorite for the No. 3 role in a high-powered passing game again, behind target-hog Cooper Kupp and offseason addition Allen Robinson. The other options would seem to be Ben Skowronek (who struggled last season) or 2021 second-rounder Tutu Atwell (5-9, 165).

The 57th overall pick last year, Jefferson generated considerable preseason hype on which he did not remotely deliver. He finished with only 31 targets in 16 games and was buried in the offense behind wide receivers Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds. Poor quarterback play from Jared Goff didn’t help, but there’s hope for 2021. Matthew Stafford should be a big upgrade for the Rams at quarterback, and Reynolds is now in Tennessee, putting Jefferson behind only Kupp and Woods. (The Rams signed DeSean Jackson, but he’s 
34 years old and has played eight games the last two years.) At 6-1, 200, Jefferson has average size, and though he did not run the 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Combine due to a broken foot, he was clocked as the fastest player during the Senior Bowl at 21.05 mph, likely putting him in the low 4.4s for the 40. Bottom line, Jefferson has upside in Year 2, competing for snaps with the 34-year-old Jackson and 165-pound rookie Tutu Atwell in what should be a good passing offense.

The 2020 second-round selection is a smooth route runner with soft hands and NFL size (6-1, 200). His collegiate numbers don't jump off the page, but last year's 13.4 yards per reception and six touchdowns over 12 games shouldn't be viewed outside the context of Florida's offense, either. The Gators ranked 97th in offensive plays per game and spread the ball around, with seven players catching at least 25 passes. The Rams also have an opening for him after trading Brandin Cooks to Houston. Jefferson's set to battle Josh Reynolds for playing time as the third receiver behind Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, and the rookie's fantasy value should rise for the 2021 campaign with Kupp and Reynolds both in the final year of their rookie contracts. The son of Shawn Jefferson, a 13-year pro and current receivers coach with the Jets, he has a murky 2020 outlook with so much offseason uncertainty. Jefferson also underwent surgery in March to repair a fracture in his right foot, so monitoring his status leading into the season will be important.